I know, that’s a very vague title and most people probably
won’t read this because they don’t know what this post is about but I wanted to
get a few things off my chest that have been lurking in my thoughts as of
late. Lately I’ve been getting a lot of
questions regarding blogging. During New
Year’s I was with a group of people who either didn’t know too much about
blogging or they wanted to know more about my blog, or even both. I got the typical questions, what do you blog
about? How did you start? Why did you start? How can I get started I want free
stuff?! Once I said the boots that
everyone wanted to steal (here) were from a collaboration with Cavender’s
everyone wanted to jump on this blogging bandwagon but I had to assure them,
that’s not why I started my blog. My
collaboration with Cavender’s was just an added bonus (that’s a MAJOR
understatement). I’m not going to lie to
you I really didn’t know how to answer those questions. I mean there wasn’t a real reason why I
started blogging and there’s really no reason why I continue to blog besides to
have fun.
won’t read this because they don’t know what this post is about but I wanted to
get a few things off my chest that have been lurking in my thoughts as of
late. Lately I’ve been getting a lot of
questions regarding blogging. During New
Year’s I was with a group of people who either didn’t know too much about
blogging or they wanted to know more about my blog, or even both. I got the typical questions, what do you blog
about? How did you start? Why did you start? How can I get started I want free
stuff?! Once I said the boots that
everyone wanted to steal (here) were from a collaboration with Cavender’s
everyone wanted to jump on this blogging bandwagon but I had to assure them,
that’s not why I started my blog. My
collaboration with Cavender’s was just an added bonus (that’s a MAJOR
understatement). I’m not going to lie to
you I really didn’t know how to answer those questions. I mean there wasn’t a real reason why I
started blogging and there’s really no reason why I continue to blog besides to
have fun.
During my almost two years of being back in the blogging world I have grown so much as a person. I’ve gotten confidence and a voice. I feel like I actually belong somewhere. I’ve met so many people, and done so many things whether it be collaborations, events, or traveling for blogging conferences. I feel like this blog is my little corner of the world where I can be myself and not get judged. It’s my place to share my ideas and not be afraid to do so. I am so thankful that I went back to blogging.
One thing that has been bugging me about the blogging world is the magical science behind gaining readership/followers. When I’m asked how did you gain all of those followers I honestly have no clue (I don’t even have a lot). Why people come to my blog or follow me on social media to see pictures of me and read about my life is beyond me. A lot of bloggers I know have posted tips and tricks on how to gain followers and how to improve your blog as a whole, and trust me there really is a science behind gaining a readership and I do read all of these posts. At the end of the day when I’m getting down on myself if my Google analytics showed one of the worst days in a few months, or I lost some followers, or I haven’t gained as many followers as I thought I would, or even if I received a mean comment (which I usually don’t delete because constructive criticism is ok, it’s the cyber bullies that I delete) I have to remind myself why I started this blog. You can compare your numbers to other blogs (you know the ones that post their stats on their advertise page) and think ok, so why do they have so many views and I don’t? We post the same things and they started blogging after I did, or any other thoughts. I’ve had blogger friends say this to me too so I know I’m not the only one that thinks like this sometimes. We have our good and bad days as bloggers. A lot of my blogging mentors have said that you really just need to give it time. Some blogs grow slower than others and THAT’S OK.
Don’t get me wrong, I would love to be a big time blogger to the point where I make myself a brand and I can blog full time and travel to a bunch of different countries, but at the same time I don’t mind being the blogger that I am today. Within the past year I’ve gone from taking most of my outfit pictures with my iPhone to taking pictures with a DSLR. I went from being timid and shy at my first Lucky FABB conference to a ball of fun at my second one. I went from being nervous about hosting my first blogger meetup to hosting 4! I went from not working with brands to having a collaboration with one of my favorite stores ever!
I guess after writing down my thoughts, the answer to the
question of why I started and why I continue to blog is simply just for fun.
question of why I started and why I continue to blog is simply just for fun.
Blogging is FUN to me.
It is a creative outlet. Once
this blog becomes anything but fun I WILL shut it down. It does get stressful sometimes and as
bloggers we DO have deadlines and we DO have to organize and treat this as a
real business. When people ask me what I
do for a living I always say I work a “9-5”, I’m a full time blogger, and a
Small Business Owner (my etsy shop).
People think blogging is easy, but I’m going to be flat out honest with
you, it can be but it takes great organizational skills and time
management. I have to sacrifice a lot of
my personal time for blogging, but honestly I don’t mind. I’d rather stay home and curl up with some
coffee and my laptop than go out spend money for a few hours of dancing or
eating. I’ve always been more of a
homebody, even when I was younger (minus my going out phase that I feel like
most people have to get out of their system, thankfully mine didn’t last long). I love taking outfit posts, despite how
exhausted I am afterwards. There’s just
something about doing hair and makeup and feeling pretty in front of that
camera that is fun to me. All of the
excitement that comes with blogging makes up for some of those negative moments
where traffic is slow or you’re just not feeling inspired. Especially those blogger bloopers. I really need to jump on that bandwagon and
upload some of these ridiculous faces I’ve made.
It is a creative outlet. Once
this blog becomes anything but fun I WILL shut it down. It does get stressful sometimes and as
bloggers we DO have deadlines and we DO have to organize and treat this as a
real business. When people ask me what I
do for a living I always say I work a “9-5”, I’m a full time blogger, and a
Small Business Owner (my etsy shop).
People think blogging is easy, but I’m going to be flat out honest with
you, it can be but it takes great organizational skills and time
management. I have to sacrifice a lot of
my personal time for blogging, but honestly I don’t mind. I’d rather stay home and curl up with some
coffee and my laptop than go out spend money for a few hours of dancing or
eating. I’ve always been more of a
homebody, even when I was younger (minus my going out phase that I feel like
most people have to get out of their system, thankfully mine didn’t last long). I love taking outfit posts, despite how
exhausted I am afterwards. There’s just
something about doing hair and makeup and feeling pretty in front of that
camera that is fun to me. All of the
excitement that comes with blogging makes up for some of those negative moments
where traffic is slow or you’re just not feeling inspired. Especially those blogger bloopers. I really need to jump on that bandwagon and
upload some of these ridiculous faces I’ve made.
That’s why I always tell people if they are getting
discouraged to remember why you started.
It’s kind of like when people tell you to remember where you came
from. I know a lot of bloggers that
started just because they needed a hobby or something fun to do and those are
some of my mentors. I honestly didn’t
think anyone would read my blog or that I would continue to run it almost two
years later. I just needed something to
do and I was bored and I thought, “you know what, I used to blog back when no
one really knew what a blog was so why not.”
discouraged to remember why you started.
It’s kind of like when people tell you to remember where you came
from. I know a lot of bloggers that
started just because they needed a hobby or something fun to do and those are
some of my mentors. I honestly didn’t
think anyone would read my blog or that I would continue to run it almost two
years later. I just needed something to
do and I was bored and I thought, “you know what, I used to blog back when no
one really knew what a blog was so why not.”
Sorry for the long post, I just feel like I needed to let
all of that out. I’m all about inspiring
other people and I’ve been in the shoes of the discouraged, and sometimes it
still happens, but at the end of the day I always remember why I started.
all of that out. I’m all about inspiring
other people and I’ve been in the shoes of the discouraged, and sometimes it
still happens, but at the end of the day I always remember why I started.
And for absolutely no reason at all except for it’s adorable here’s a little Agnes Gif to light up your life for 5 seconds!
I share all of these thoughts! I appreciate your honesty because at the end of the day, especially a rough day, we all want to know were not alone in how we feel. 🙂
Brooke
pumps and push-ups
I love this post, thanks for sharing. And if you don't mind, I'm gonna take your quote/badge and put it on my blog. I don't make more than a few cents on my blog, and I don't mind. I love to blog, always have, for just the reasons you gave.